Living Free

Mike grew up suffering from ADHD and was pretty isolated and felt like he didn’t fit in at home or at school.  His parents had come from alcoholic homes and were unstable and unpredictable. Mike started drinking at about 14 years old and found that it allowed him to feel good, equal, relaxed and easy-going. In his early 20’s Mike used amphetamines and alcohol regularly, but it was his access to qu...

Content Warning - this program features a personal story that includes gambling and suicidal thoughts that may be distressing to some listeners. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea right now you should skip of this podcast. If this does raise questions or causes distress, please call Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636).SJ grew up in the seventies in New Zealand, in a time when...

Kate grew up in NSW as part of a large extended family but her home life was affected, in ways she did not understand at the time, by the intergenerational effects of alcoholism. Even though her family appeared to be functioning well on the ouside, Kate came to understand that the facade hid the reality that members of the family were to a large extent isolated from each other, just surviving. As...

Craig had a usual childhood and like his dad he enjoyed a drink like most other people. It wasn’t until he was in his fifties that his regular drinking quickly spiralled out of control when he lost his job unexpectedly. His anxiety turned to anger, and resentment and he used alcohol and anti-depressants to try and cope with his new situation. At his family’s suggestion, Craig went into a rehab fac...

Tony had a very disrupted childhood and although he hadn’t done anything criminal spent time in youth detention and then because of his subsequent drug lifestyle spent frequent stints in prison. It wasn’t until a “do-gooder” helped him find some stable accommodation on exiting prison and indirectly introduced him to recovery in Narcotics Anonymous that Tony was able to get his life into perspectiv...

Nick Kenny shares his story of alcohol drug over use and how it affected his life. He considered going to Narcotics Anonymous before settling with SMART Recovery and through their structured program has managed to address his addictive behaviour. Nick discusses how SMART Recovery meetings and using the SMART recovery tools have helped him. To find out more about SMART Recovery Australia visit www....

Ryan shares his journey of a normal family life where gambling and drinking were commonplace. He felt fairly alienated as a child at school and had authority issues from a very young age. Ryan started gambling seriously when he was 21 after a split-up with ahis partner. He initially won a large sum of money but quickly gambling consumed that and then his weekly income. Ryan initially sought help t...

Cheryl grew up in Massachusetts, USA, in the 1950s in a family affected by alcoholism. It was only when she was sent away to school that she was given the structure that she needed. Later, as she built her career, Cheryl discovered that several of the survival skills that she had learnt in her childhood home had become personal attributes that were highly valued in the workplace, but she also lear...

Olivia shares his story of drug over use and how it affected her life. She tried Narcotics Anonymous before settling with SMART Recovery and through their structured program has managed to address her addictive behaviour. Olivia discusses how SMART Recovery meetings and using the SMART recovery tools have helped her. To find out more about SMART Recovery Australia visit www.smartrecoveryaustralia....

Jacinta shares her experience of having overcome a substance abuse problem with the help of Narcotics Anonymous when she realized that recovery wasn’t sufficient to overcome her chronic underachieving in her personal life. Still experiencing low self-worth that led to a life of underachieving it further damaged her relationships and she eventually found help through Underearners Anonymous. Underea...

Grant shares his journey of experiencing trauma and how that led him to use gambling as an escape from his feelings of abandonment. Gambling further damaged his relationships and he sought help in Gamblers Anonymous. But recovery isn’t always straightforward, and Grant drifted away for a while and returned to gambling before realizing the importance of his recovery in Gamblers Anonymous. Coming ba...

Diane grew up in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne in a large, close, chaotic family. When she married an alcoholic she found that difficulties of money, trust and security entered her life and she began to suffer from chronic health problems. Her doctor recommended Al-Anon. Through attending meetings and learning how to deal with the effects of someone else's drinking, Diane began to make choices...

Steve shares his story of alcohol over use and how he tried Alcoholics Anonymous before finding SMART Recovery. Over eleven years the SMART Recovery meetings have helped him to get back to normal life using the SMART recovery tools. To find out more about SMART Recovery Australia visit www.smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au for details of meetings and contact information or call them on (02) 9373 5100....

Ellie and Joyce experienced eating disorders since their childhood, where food became a treat that they treasured above friendships.  Eating was never an obvious problem to them, but they sought out large quantities of food and treats as part of their everyday lives. Their eating impacted on their work and relationships, and it was not until later in life, after years of food related problems that...

Max shares his story of developing a gambling habit through watching his grandfather gambling as a child and from the acceptance of gambling behaviour by the parents of his peers at high school.  Max ended up gambling online, stealing money from his mum’s bank account, borrowing from friends, and hiding his compulsive behaviour from his partner.  The podcast provides an insight into the progressio...

Maya grew up with an active alcoholic father who had high expectations of her. As an adult, she joined Al-Anon Family Groups, seeking help with her confused feelings about herself and her family. Through participating in meetings and practising the 12 Steps, Maya gradually improved her relationship with her father and more importantly with herself. Today she discusses the role of the 12 Steps in t...

Lyndal and Emma talk about the effect of alcoholism on their lives and how Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Family Groups respectively have helped them to recover. They also talk about the benefits of being in a 12th Step fellowship and also about the upcoming VICYPAA Convention on Saturday 9th October 2021. If you think that alcohol may be a problem then Alcoholics Anonymous could help you. Give...

Tallulah is now a facilitator for SMART Recovery Australia and shares her story of alcohol over use and how she tried Alcoholics Anonymous, medication and hypnotherapy before finding SMART Recovery. Over two years the SMART Recovery meetings have helped her to get back to normal life using the SMART recovery tools. To find out more about SMART Recovery Australia visit www.smartrecoveryaustralia.co...

Genevieve shares her story of polysubstance misuse and her recovery through exposure to SMART Recovery in rehab. Gen found it difficult during Covid-19 without face-to-face meetings and didn’t like the online experience so she’s 3-months clean and hanging out for the return of in-person meetings. To find out more about SMART Recovery Australia visit www.smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au for details of...

Andrew shares his story of developing a gambling habit through arcade games as a child and then moving on to pokies in his late teens.  It provides an insight into the progression of his gambling addiction and his initial contact with and eventual recovery through Gamblers Anonymous. Andrew also shares about the effect of alcohol and how it often accompanied his gambling. If you’re having trouble...

Victor grew up in a family where alcohol was abused. His father was frequently violent, and to survive, Victor became hyper-vigilant and sensitive to the moods of his parents. As a child, Victor found refuge outside of the family, playing with friends in the wild areas near his home. As he grew, he recognised in himself an impulse to heal his family through humour and by trying to form relationshi...

Today’s guest is Mark Bell, a facilitator for SMART Recovery Australia and he shares his story of drug and alcohol over use and how the SMART Recovery meetings helped him to get back into control of his life and give back to his community. To find out more about SMART Recovery Australia visit www.smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au for details of meetings and contact information or call them on (02) 937...

Lyn grew up with parents who had come from alcoholic families themselves and was the youngest member of a large family. She had a happy childhood but that all changed when she moved interstate with her parents when she started secondary school.  A bit of a rebel, Lyn had her first drink in a pub when she was in her early teens. She loved the effect of alcohol and “was never able to have just two d...

Hannah shares her story of developing a gambling habit through arcade games, pokies, TAB betting and then on casino tables. It provides an insight into gambling addiction and her eventual recovery through Gamblers Anonymous. Hannah also shares about the effect of alcohol, “I realized that if I’d drink then I’d gamble” and on her young son, “on his Fisher-Price toy telephone he wouldn’t say hello,...

CONTENT WARNING: This interview contains themes of suicide that some listeners may find confronting. It is not suitable for young listeners or if you planned to listen to it whilst driving. If this interview does raise issues for you and you need help then you can call LIFELINE on 13 11 14 or BEYOND BLUE on 1300 224 636.Jacinta married a partner whose binge drinking affected her, and her family’s...